ETAT+ training aims to equip medical students and health care workers with pertinent skills and competences to handle the most common clinical conditions in children under the age of 5 years. Since its introduction, thousands of healthcare workers have benefitted from the training and have gone and continue to make a difference in the lives of our children.
ETAT+ training has always been incorporated into the undergraduate training of medical doctors before they commence their Pediatrics clinical rotation at the University of Nairobi, School of medicine, Plus also all postgraduate students in the field of pediatrics at the beginning of their training.
The first training this year took part from the 11th to 15th January 2021 in the college of health sciences. This training was unique as it was the 1st in the whole world to incorporate training on equipment and technologies as part of the efforts in reducing neonatal mortality.
Study materials were distributed to all participants before the training commenced. The training sessions were divided into two, plenary sessions and practical sessions. The plenary sessions were in form of lectures while the practical sessions consisted of 6-17 participants and these delivered the skills.
These practical sessions were aimed at facilitating active discussions on what is taught in the plenary, demonstration of skills and practice with use of simulations of real-life clinical scenarios. Skills taught included giving effective ventilation by use of a bag valve mask device, giving effective chest compressions during resuscitation of a collapsed child, using the MUAC tape, Using the Spacer + Inhaler device among many others. All participants would simulate the skills until each participant was comfortable with every skill.
On the 3rd day of the training, participants were introduced to the newborn clinical practice guidelines and technologies used in the care of the newborn. The equipment included radiant warmers, the Pumani CPAP machine, Oxygen concentrators and LED phototherapy machines. Display of the equipment was done in the lecture theater and students were introduced on assembly, use and care of the equipment using the standard operating procedures.
The last day of the training was a fun filled day. Participants were further divided into smaller groups where they were able to practice use of the equipment in various simulated clinical scenarios that included newborn resuscitation on the radiant warmer, how to the photo therapy machines to manage neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and use of the Pumani CPAP machine to manage respiratory distress syndrome.
The training ended with a closing ceremony which was graced by the Chairperson of the Department of Pediatrics and Child health Prof. Dalton Wamalwa. Prof Wamalwa in his highlights congratulated every participant on the completion of the training and acknowledged the immense work done by the Head of the ETAT+ program in the University of Nairobi, Prof. Grace Irimu plus the ETAT+ trainers all of whom were present. All participants were very happy and were all welcomed into their Pediatric clinical rotation. Special thanks go to the head of the program Prof. Grace Irimu, the Postgraduate ETAT+ trainers 2021 and the NEST trainers who gave their time and worked tirelessly to make this training a success. You are game changers.
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